Shower-bath apparatus.



C. F. DARDANO.

4 SHOWER BATH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10| T914. lylkym f 6,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C. F. DARDANO.

SHOWER BATH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I0. I9I4.

Patented July 6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET?.

Lllw

CARLOS F. '.DBDANO, OF SN SALVADOR, SAN SALVDOR.

SHOWER-BATH APPARATUS.

rinasce.

Specicationof Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1915.

Application led December 10, 1914. Serial No. 876,577. f

To all 'whom it may concern.' v

Be it known that I, CARLOS F.4 DRDANO, a citizen of the Republic of San Salvador, Central America, residing at San Salvador city, San Salvador, Central America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shower-Bath Apparatus; and IV do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

'Ihe present invention relates to shower bath apparatus, and has for an object to provide an apparatus of` this character which will be embodied in an article of furniture, capable of transportation, and constructed in imitat'on of, a wardrobe; and the same may be ocated in a sleeping or other apartment where the apparatus will occupy a minimum of space.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedshower bath apparatus which, when 'in closed position, wlll present a decorative appearance, concealing the construction of the apparatus so that the nature thereof is not disclosed.

4A further object of the present invention resides "in providing a shower bath apparatus which will be durable in construction and easily operated in moving the same into open and closed positions; and the same will moreover be arranged to' be liquid-tight so as to prevent the accidental spraying or spilling of water upon the floor of the apartment.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel details of construction and combinations of parts more fully hereinafter disclosed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and which similar reference symbols indicate corresponding parts in the several views: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shower bath apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, and illustrated in,r open position ready for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view disclosing the apparatus in partly folded position. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the apparatus in open position. Fig. 4 is' a transverse sectional view of the same. lFig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, and illustrating the apparatus in closed position; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the apparatus disclosing a modified form of counterbalance. Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view takenon the line 77 of Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the'drawings, wherein one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, 1 designates a frame or cabinet constructed in imitation of a wardrobe or other article of furniture; the

same being further constructed with a head-- provided with mechanism for'maintaining.

a constant level of water. From the waste tank 3 leads a pipe y6, under the control of a valve 7, for conveying awaythe Waste water, as will be understood.v

The front wall 8 of the cabinet 1 is hinged, as indicated at 9, and provided with fianges 10 for converting, the same into a ioor or trough for the apparatus, upon which the bather may stand, or upon which a bath tub may be placed. The wall 8 is provided with hinged feet 11, which may be folded down when the apparatus is closed, as indicated in Fig. 5, and the same are preferably of a length to support the trough inclined, so that the waste water will drain oil into the tank 3. At either sid-e of the furniture the trough 8 is arranged to be connected at its outer end to the cabinet 1 by a pair of braces 12 and 13, pivoted together,

as indicated atili, and pivotally connected at their outer'ends, respectively, to the cabinet and trough. To the central connections 14.- are also pivoted braces 15, connected with the upper end'of ya frame 16, in which are mounted the doors 17, through which access may be had to the bath. The door frame 16 is further connected by means of braces 18 to the trough 8, and as advantageously disclosed in Figs. 1 and 3, the braces 18 are hinged to the door frame 16 substantially midway the height thereof, and are pivoted at their lower ends to the outer end of the trough 8.

To assist in moving thetrough S'about its pivotal connection 9 in opening and closing the apparatus, itis desirable to provide a counterbalance mechanismy' and for this purpose it is to be understood that any suitable counterbalance may be employed. However, the counterbalance arrangement here illustrated. is the one' preferably employed in the practical embodimentofl the invention, and the saine consistsi'n aI pair of cords 19 and 20, at each side of the apparatus, and connected at one end, respectively, to the trough 8, as indicated at 21, and to the door frame 16, as indicated at 22 ;A and at the opposite ends of the cords 19 the same are connected to the cords 20, as indicated at 23, and the ends of the cords support counterbalance weights 24. Each cord 19 runs over a pair'of pulleys 25 rand 26, journaled on the side walls of the cabinet 1,;

' and the cord 20 is arranged to operate upon -in vertical alinement with similar pulleys 28, likewise supported in the cabinet To the reservoir 2 is pivotally connected, by means of a ball and socket or other suitable joint, a gooseneck 29, to which is connected a spray head 30. As indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, when in open position, the spray head 30 vis arranged to be suspended substantially centrally over the apparatus and when` in closed position the .gooseneck 29 will fold downwithinI the cabinet 1, as illustrated in Fig. 5. In order to render this action automatic, the gooseneck 29 is connected topa pair of cords 31, or other fiexible connections, the same running over pairs of 30 i pulleys 32 and 33 and having their lower ends secured to the trough 8, as indicated at 34. It will be understood that, by this construction, the trough 8, when folded down to the open position,.will draw uponthe connections 31 and thereby move the gooseneck 29 about its pivotal connection into a position to brin the spray head 30 substantially central y above the apparatus.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, rubber or other curtainsI 34 and'35 are suspended at each side of the-apparatus from the cords 20, secured at their opposite ends to the cabinet 1 andpdoor frame --16, respectively. The curtain rings shown, or other may be employed for sus `ending the curtains, and the same havei e`ir lower edges disposed within the `longitudinal flanges 10 of the trough 8,"so-'as .to from the spray head 30 into the trough, and prevent the water from accidental spraying or spilling over the'sides of the apparatus.

suitable "devices,

direct the water Referring more particularly to Fig. 6, Il

have dlsclosed a modified formof counterports 36 mounted withint e cabinet 1, and

the counterbalance weights, which, in this instance, are suspended from the inner ends of the cords 20, as heretofore described. Each counterbalance consists of a plurality of weights 37,38 and 39 of progressively decreasing diameters, independently ,be 4.understood that in folding the apparatus,

of stepped sup-v slidable on the" cord 20 and flanged, as shown, to engage the respective steps of the supports 36. It will .the counterbalance; while,

the counterbalances' will descend" into the supports 36, and the weight 37 will firstl encounter the uppermost supporting surface, so that its effect will be withdrawn from the counterbalance after the ,trough 8 has been lifted through a certain predetermined distance. Upon the further upward movement of the trough 8 the weights 38 and 39 will successively engage their respective supporting surfaces and withdraw their effects to counterbalance said trough. It will be understood that with this modified form of counterbalance the initial movement of the trough 8 is assisted and its inertia overcome by a combination of each of the weights of after the trough 8 has been raised, and the use of a heavy counterbalance is no longer necessary, the weights are successively withdrawn in order to prevent the apparatus too quickly and violently closing. In releasing and lowering the trough 8 it will be appreciated that upon the initial movement of the same the weights of the counterbalance will not be brought into play, thereby facilitating this movement, but the same will be successively brought into action as the trough descends and its weight is removed from the pivot point 9.

In operation, it will be understood that from \the folded position of the apparatus, shown in Fig. 5, the same may be opened for use by disengaging the front wall 8 and revolving the same about the pivot 9 to the position shown in Fig. 3, where the legs 11 rest upon the floor and support the outer end of the same. In descending the wall 8 carries with it the door frame 16, which, during the descentfis acted on by the counterbalancing cords 20 to raise the same about l and 35, by reason of their connection to the door frame16, are automatically drawn out to inclose the"sides of the bath, and through the cord 3 1 the gooseneck 29 and spray head 30 are moved to elevated position.-

It gwill be understood that the gooseneck 29 may be` provided with a valve for regulating the flow of water to the spray head 30, or the head 30 may be tinuously discharge while in the elevated position.- In closing the apparatus the door frame 16 is revolved about its hinged `connection and the trough 8'raised, assisted by the counterbalance and revolved about thel pivot 9 in that manner indicated .in Fi 2.

As more particularly seen in Fig. g of the drawings, the casing'- 1 may be constructed with partitions 45 and 46 at either side thereof, the same forming, with the end Walls-of the casing, compartments for the counterbalances 24, and for thereception of thev curtains 34', the braces 12 and 13, etc.

arranged to con-l lt will be understood from the foregoing that l have provided a shower bath apparatus of neat and finished( appearance, and constructed to be transported as an articlev of furniture.

l have illustrated andfdescribed preferred and satisfactory constructions, but obviously changes could be made in the herein described apparatus which could be used without departing from tlie spirit of my invention.

l claim: f

1. In a shower bath apparatus, the come bination of a cabinet, a wall pivoted to said cabinet and adapted to be lowered to form a floor for the bath, counterbalance means y for assisting the movement of said wall,a

frame for giving access to the bath arranged to normally occupyan upright posi, tion at the outer end of said wall and fold down against the latter Jwhen the same is raised, and means associated with said counterbalance for moving said frame into an inclosing the sides ofthe bath, substantially as described.

4..,ln a shower bath apparatus, the combinationof. a cabinet providing a reservoir and waste tank, a wall pivoted to said cabi` net and adapted to be lowered and forni a Hoor for the bath., Acounterbalance means tion at the outer end of said wall and arranged to be folded down against the same,

means for moving said lframe into 4upright position when the vwall is lowered, a sprayk device connected to said reservoir and arupright position when the wall is lowered, )ranged to move withinsaid cabinet when the substantially as described.

2. ln a shower bath apparatus, the comwall is raised,` and means for raising said spray device when said wall is lowered, substantially as described. i

bination of a cabinet, a wall pivoted to said cabinet and adapted to be lowered and form 5- :lll a Show@ bath a floor for the bath, braces connected bebination of a cabinet, a wall pivoted t0 Saad tween said cabinet and wall, counterbalance Cbmet and 31T ange@ t0 be 10We1`@d @11d means for said floor, a frame normally ocform ai H001 fol the bathfa fram@ for'gvlllg ,for assisting to move said wall, a doorr,

frame normally occupying an upright posiapparatus, the com I cupying an upright position at theouter end l aCCeSStO lille/ bath and arranged to be folded of said wall and arranged to' be yfolded down agamst Sad Wall When the lattel 1S down. against the latter when the same is raised, and, @Oullte'balmce mes OI. Said raised, means associatedl with said counter- WaU-SSOIDPIiSmg a stepped support mounted balance for -raising said frame into upright j 111 Said qab1net, and a plurallty 0f weights position when said wa11 is lowered, and ourconstltutlng Sald countrbalanceand contains 'connected between said cabinet and StIUCted t0 Test 01%9, 011 each 0f @he stepped frame for inclosing the sides'fof the bath, Surfaces-substantm11y as descl'lbed substantially as described. ln testimony whereof, afiix mylsigna- 3.. In a shower bath apparatus of. the tures m Presence 0f two Wltnesses character described, the combination of a u cabinet, a wall pivoted to said cabinet and arranged to be loweredand form a door for the bath, a frame for giving access to -Witnessesz DAVID FAJARDO, J. Rf, HIXON. k

CARLS F. DRDAN. 

